detector

[ dih-tek-ter ]

noun

1. a person or thing that detects.
2. a device for detecting smoke, fire, or some other hazardous condition.
3. a device for detecting the presence of metal, contraband, or other items that might be hidden or concealed.
4. Telecommunications.
   1. a device for detecting electric oscillations or waves.
   2. a device, as a crystal detector or a vacuum tube, that rectifies the alternating current in a radio receiver.

detector

/ dɪˈtɛktə /

noun

1. a person or thing that detects
2. any mechanical sensing device
3. electronics a device used in the detection of radio signals

Word History and Origins

Origin of detector¹

1535–45; < Late Latin dētēctor revealer, equivalent to Latin dēteg ( ere ) to uncover, reveal ( detect ) + -tor -tor

Example Sentences

The Enquirer story was written by Robin Mizrahi, who interviewed Ferrier and had arranged for her to take a lie detector test.

From The Daily Beast

She agreed to meet with tabloid editors in New York City and take a lie detector test to back up her claims.

From The Daily Beast

If you recall, Chase took a lie detector test and he passed.

From The Daily Beast

He bent the truth throughout his life to ensure that he was known as the man who had invented the lie detector test.

From The Daily Beast

She acts as a sort of lie detector, but proceeds through elegant narrative rather than binary test.

From The Daily Beast

Peering at the proximity detector, Cragley announced that we were quite safe from a collision.

From Project Gutenberg

Not even the Gerns had ever been able to devise a polarized detector screen.

From Project Gutenberg

And, since the frequency was so high, a special detector was required to pick it up.

From Project Gutenberg

Then he looked at the distance recorded on the meteor detector.

From Project Gutenberg

Hollingwood, the metallurgist, appeared, dragging with him the detector.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• radar